Where firefighters are concerned, thick plumes of smoke are usually not a good thing.

But when we’re talking 2,700 pounds of beef roasted in an old-fashioned pit, 160 massive containers of coleslaw and potato salad, 70 cans of baked beans, and one of the area’s longest running traditions — it’s a party.

Thousands of people attended the 66th annual Murrieta Firefighters Barbecue on Sunday. It’s an event that started as a simple affair to raise money for the local Fire Department and has morphed into a street fair encompassing most of downtown Murrieta with bounce houses, petting zoos, Model T cars for display, a beer garden, and more than 60 vendors selling everything from funnel cakes to handbags.

“We do this because it’s our tradition,” said Murrieta Fire Chief Matt Shobert.

It’s also a reunion of a sort, because many who have long retired and even moved away are known to come back to say hello, according to Capt. Phil Dominguez, a 25-year veteran of the force. “This is where the old-timers come back to catch up. This is part of their tradition.”

Among them, a guy that seemingly everybody knew, was Barry Robertson, who retired after 21 years with the Murrieta Fire Department. In the middle of an interview, two passers-by came by to shake his hand, one hugged him, calling him “the legend.”

“I get to see people here I haven’t seen in years,” said the longtime Murrieta resident. “I lived here since 1969 and I see not only people I worked with, but people who lived here and come back just for this.”

The barbecue — the crown jewel of the all-day event — typically feeds more than 2,000 people. At $9 a plate for adults, and $6 for children, the event will help fund the Sgt. Eric (Doc) Williams Scholarship Foundation, a scholarship for a local emergency medical technical student, named for a local Marine killed in Afghanistan in 2012. Proceeds from the event also go to the Murrieta Fire Department Explorer Program for young, future firefighters.

Among the youngest there, racing to see an old firetruck, was the Lalonde family of Temecula. Jason Lalonde, spotted chasing his sons through a crowd, said the event is a great way to get out of the house.

“They love anything having to do with firetrucks,” said Lalonde, catching up to 6-year-old Jonathon and 2-year-old Lucas.

Dawny Ramsey took her 9-year-old daughter, Ginger, and her friend to the barbecue. Impressed with the petting zoo and the pony rides, the girls were, by then, quite involved with messy snow cones.

“I’m happy about this ice cream,” said Ginger Ramsey. Her mother said this was the first time she’s been to the event. “I’m impressed by how much is going on here,” she said.

The barbecue also helped unveil to the community the Murrieta Fire Department’s first-ever calendar, featuring a dozen burly and chiseled local firefighters posing in the name of charity. Diana Monaco, analyst for the Fire Department and one of the coordinators for the calendar, said proceeds from the 2014 calendar will go to Michelle’s Place Breast Cancer Resource Center.